Netherlands, albeit very late to the party, announced its decision to reopen the skies for South Africa and other regions once tagged as high-risk countries with variants of concern.
Netherlands removes South Africa from entry ban list
In a statement, the Deutsche government noted that from Sunday 16 January 2022, travellers from South Africa were “eligible for exemption from the EU Entry Ban.”
Despite growing calls of condemnation from global leaders in virology and scientists central to COVID-19 research, Netherlands was one of many ‘developed’ countries that banned South Africa for being the first to detect the Omicron variant.
The decision, as it turned out, was not supported by science or tracing data. Today, Omicron wreaks havoc in Europe and the United States and, finally, countries realised how fruitless it was to ban South African travellers.
Entry requirements for SA travellers visiting Netherlands
No longer tagged as a country with a variant of concern, South African travellers visiting Netherlands must still undergo rigorous entry processes.
Here is everything you need to know:
Negative COVID-19 test
All travellers aged 12 and older are required to produce a negative PCR test taken no longer than 48 hours before departure.
Antigen tests are accepted. However, they must be taken no longer than 24 hours of departure.
Quarantine
Since South Africa is still regarded a high-risk country, quarantine is mandatory, irrespective of vaccination status.
Minimum stay in quarantine is 10 days, where a number of PCR tests will be conducted during your stay at home or at an accommodation facility of your choosing.
If, on Day 5, the test result Is negative, then travellers are allowed to end the mandatory quarantine.
“This mandatory quarantine rule also applies to people who live with or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive after arriving from a very high-risk area where there is a variant of concern,” the Deutsche government warned.
Before travelling to Netherlands, South African travellers must download and complete this mandatory quarantine form and present it at the airport.
Mandatory quarantine is only exempt if:
- you are below the age of 12;
- transiting through Netherlands;
- you come from an area not deemed as high-risk;
- you are staying in Netherlands for less than 12 hours;
- you are attending a funeral;
Check the full list of mandatory quarantine exemptions right here.
